Retaining device



H. J. FANGER Aug. 27, 1935.

PAPER AND PACKAGE RECEIVING AND RETAINING DEVICE Original Filed Jan. 23, 1933 INVENTOR.

BY MEOR EYS. :2

Patented Aug. 27, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAPER AND PACKAGE RECEIVING AND RETAINING DEVICE y, g

Herman J. Fanger, Oakland, Calif.

Application January 23, 1933, Serial No. 653,071 Renewed January 10, 1935 1 Claim. (CI. 24-66) This invention relates to devices for receiving and retaining newspapers, handbills, periodicals and the like at the entrance todwellings or other buildings.

It is common practice in distributing newspapers, handbills and periodicals from house to house to merely deposit the same in front of the entrance to the dwelling or other building. This is not only unsightly but also frequently results in the destruction or loss of the paper or periodical, as the case may be, and further necessitates the occupant of the house to gather up these articles from in front of the entrance.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide an extremely simple and inexpensive device which may be arranged adjacent the entrance of the dwelling or other building and utilized to receive and retain newspapers and the like so as to prevent their loss or destruc- 20 tion and likewise eliminate their being strewn in an unsightly manner at the entrance of the dwelling or other building.

In carrying the invention into practice, I provide a device formed of a single strip of material 25 having inherent resilient qualities. This strip is so fashioned that it will receive and retain newspapers, periodicals and the like in a manner that they will not become lost or destroyed and will enable the occupant of the dwelling or building to readily remove them.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

35 Fig. 1 is a perspective of a device embodying the preferred form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same showing the manner in which it may be used to grip and retain newspapers and the like.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, I 9 indicates a device which may be mounted on any vertical surface adjacent the entrance to a dwelling or other building to receive and retain newspapers, periodicals, handbills and the like. The device is formed of a single strip of material, preferably metal, having inherent spring qualities. This strip is preferably uniform 5 in width throughout its length and is preferably formed of metal which is non-corrosive.

It will be noticed that at one end the strip is formed with a section II which is adapted to be disposed flatly against an upright surface and which is drilled in order that screws I2 may be utilized to secure the same to the surface against which it is mounted. Y

At the lower end of the fastening section I I the strip'is offset outwardly from the rear surface-of 1' the fastening section I I and then extended downwardly in parallelism to the fastening section I I forming an inner clamping section I4. At the lower terminal of this inner clamping section I4 the strip is bent into a circle I5, the radius of a which is slightly greater than the amount of the offset between the rear surface of the fastening section II and the inner clamping section I4.

From the circle I5 an outer clamping section I 6 extends upwardly and slightly inwardly so that it will contact under normal circumstances with the inner clamping section I4 at a point intermediate'the ends of the latter. From this point of contact the outer clamping section I6 is gradually curved outwardly and terminates as at I1 at a considerable distance from the upper terminal of the inner clamping section I4.

It will be noticed that the outer clamping section I6 terminates at a height approximately at a point opposite the commencement of the offset so that a comparatively large mouth is provided to enable newspapers, periodicals or the like to be slipped downwardly between the inner and outer clamping sections as illustrated in Fig. 2.

In use, the device is mounted on the outer surface of a vertical wall adjacent the entrance n of a dwelling or building and it is so disposed normally that the inner surface of the circle I5 contacts with the wall so that any one desiring to place a small handbill, card or the like, merely interposes it between the circle and the wall and it will be clamped in this position by the tendency of the device to maintain the inner surface of the circle in firm contact with the wall.

It is likewise seen that rolled papers or the like may be disposed through the circle or that folded newspapers, periodicals, handbills and small packages may be inserted either between the inner clamping section and the Wall or between the inner and outer clamping sections, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The device has a multiplicity of other uses in this connection and adequately serves to support a considerable number of newspapers and the like and to retain them and prevent their loss and destruction.

It is desired to point out that the device is of neat appearance and exceedingly inexpensive to construct and will serve adequately to prevent newspapers, handbills and the like from being 55 strewn in an unsightly manner about the entrance to a dwelling or other building.

The form of the device shown in Fig. 3 is the same as in Fig. 2 except that instead of formed of a single flat strip of material it is formed of a single strip of spring wire bent double and then formed the same as the device illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be noticed that the free ends of the wire which is bent to form the body of the device are secured in a channel shaped clip Ha, which may be disposed flatly against the upright surface and which is drilled in order that screws may be utilized to secure the same to the surface against which it is mounted. Just slightly below the clip I la the material is offset outwardly from its free ends and then extended downwardly substantially in parallelism to the surface of the clip Ila, forming an inner At the lower terminal of this inner clamping section Ma, the material is clamping section Ma.

bent into a circle la the radius of which is greater than the amount of offset between the rear surface of the clip- Ma and the inner clamping section Ma. From the circle l5a an outer clamping section lfia extends between the two wires forming the lower terminal of the inner clamping section I la, and extends upwardly and slightly wardly and terminates as at Ma at a considerable distance from the upper terminal of the inner clamping section I 4a,. It will be noticed that at one point on the circle [5a the two wires forming the material are secured together by a fastening element l8.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a very simple and inexpensive paper and package receiving and retaining device which may be arranged adjacent the entrance of a dwelling or other building and utilized to receive and retain newspapers and the like so as to prevent their loss or destruction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

As an article of manufacture, a device of the character described formed of a strip of material of inherent resilient qualities, one end of said strip being formed in a straight fastening section, the strip then being oiTset away from the rear surface of said fastening section, then extended downwardly in a straight inner clamping section, then bent to form a substantially complete circle of a radius greater than the amount of the offset, then extending upwardly to form a straight upper clamping section directed slightly inwardly whereby it will contact with the inner clamping section, said outer clamping section extending to a point substantially at the ofiset and then curved outwardly and terminating at its free end.

HERMAN J. FANGER. 

